It's officially October and I am officially freaking out because I don't know what to be for Halloween. This may sound like elementary school problems but this is serious business (fun) in San Francisco. Some years I've chosen my costume for the next year as soon as November 1st so it's a bit frustrating that I haven't found inspiration yet.

Of course I always make my costume. I believe the first costume I made myself was in 4th grade. I was a bat. I wore all black and decorated black material with glow in the dark puff paint to create bat wings. When I'm making a costume I often get inspiration from something I already own or find throughout the year. This helps keep a budget for other supplies to around $40.

Here's a bit of record keeping for myself of my costumes made in adulthood. Enjoy some semi-embarrassing pictures of myself.

Playing dress up in San Francisco

2012 Smokey Bear/ 2011 A Spider

My Smokey Bear costume was inspired by a ranger hat I bought in yosemite. I felted a mask, ears, and sewed up a fake fur coat. For more Smokey Bear costume pics see my blog post last year.

The Pirate Supply Girl costume was inspired by 826 Valencia. I used a tutu and tights I already owned, a $2 pirate hat found at a thrift store, and a “puffy shirt” my mom bought me one year for Christmas. That Halloween The Giants had just won the World Series so I included a "black beard" in my box of goodies. I sold it to a Brian Wilson jersey'd giants fan for five bucks.

2009 A Witch (hard to dig a picture up for this year). Pictured left my grandma dressed as a witch trying to kill my mom dressed as a black widow (maker).

Inspired by my grandma and her love for dressing up as a witch for Halloween, in 2009, I chose to dress as The Wicked Witch of the East before the house falls on her in Wizard of Oz. That year my family had a surprise 80th birthday celebration for for my grandma so it was fitting to dress as a witch in celebration.

2008 Football Player

It was serendipity when I found a $5 kids helmet at a yard sale. I already owned a Jeff Garcia jersey so a Halloween costume was inevitable. You can't see it in these pics but I turned a football into a purse. That's always an extra challenge every year. Making sure all my accessories fit with my costume.

2007 Young Cruella de Vil/ the young "ella" would totally take selfies.

My roommate in 2007 owned a pink rabbit fur coat. I taped paper dots to the fur as not to ruin it. I'd lost some by the time these pics were taken.

2006 My Space/ 2005 A Paper Doll

The MySpace costume looks a bit crazy but hey remember how distracting the real My Space was. I wore a "wall" that I made out of distracting fabric and ironed on profile and cat pictures. Throughout the evening I handed out quizzes and gathered friends on my wall by using my real Polaroid camera.

In 2005 I had access to a large format printer so I could finally fulfill a costume idea that was haunting me. For the paper doll costume I printed an illustration on Tyvek. I knew it would look like paper without tearing. I held everything together with snaps.

Playing dress up in college

Princess Leah/ Stick Figure

For my Princess Leah costume I used a white graduation robe I owned. The belt was made out of cardboard and silver spray paint and I baked her iconic hairdo out of bread dough from a tube.

I have know idea what made me dress up as a stick figure but I sure was reflective.

PEZ Dispenser

The PEZ costume is made out of cardboard, spray paint, and suspender material. This costume was held together with velcro so I could fit it in my car. The main lesson this costume taught me is to never make a costume that restricts leg mobility.

Looking back at all these pics I've dressed up as some classics; witches, spiders, pirates, Star Wars, oh my! I'd love some costume suggestions for this year if you have any. I may just have to put another twist on a classic.

Thanks friends and family who helped dig up some old pics of my Halloweens past.